South San Francisco: Suspect arrested in hit-and-run that left one critically injured

SOUTH SAN FRANCISCO -- Police have arrested a man in connection with a hit-and-run accident Dec. 19 that left a South San Francisco man critically injured in the street as he was on his way to a Christmas pageant, police said.

Michael John Weiler, a 27-year-old roofer who was temporarily living with his girlfriend, was arrested by officers just hours after he is suspected of striking the victim, 36-year-old Ricardo Carnero, and then taking off from the 400 block of Miller Avenue, police said.

According to witness statements, the man struck Carnero about 6:52 p.m. as he was getting out of his car to attend the All Souls Church Christmas Pageant, San Mateo County District Attorney Steve Wagstaffe said. Carnero was taken to a local trauma center, where he remains in serious condition.

According to police Lt. Mike Remedios, Weiler drove away in what witnesses described as a white Ford 4x4 extended cab pickup truck with a metal toolbox and a lumber rack in the back. Based on the witness reports, police were able to obtain surveillance video of the truck from a nearby parking lot.

Shortly thereafter, an officer spotted the truck in front of a home on the 500 block of 4th Lane and alerted police investigators to its location, Wagstaffe said. Investigators later discovered the home to be that of Weiler's girlfriend, where he was living.

Remedios said the white 1997 Ford F-250 pickup truck was found to be a stolen vehicle with different stolen license plates attached. Weiler denied any involvement with either the stolen truck or the collision, but two witnesses identified him as the driver of the truck, and body damage to the vehicle supported their claims.

Advertisement

Weiler's employer also said he had seen him driving the truck multiple times, and claimed he had even once filled it up with gas for him, Wagstaffe said.

A search of the home turned up an unknown type of firearm ammunition, along with stolen property found to be connected to a robbery in Millbrae four days earlier, Wagstaffe said.

Weiler was arrested on charges of hit and run resulting in injury, failing to provide aid to a victim and possession of stolen property, Remedios said. He pleaded not guilty to all charges at his arraignment Wednesday, Dec. 26, and remains in San Mateo County Sheriff's Office Main Jail in Redwood City on $150,000 bail.

His preliminary hearing was set for 9 a.m. Jan. 7 in San Mateo County Superior Court. Weiler also has a pending felony case on the charge of possession of methamphetamines from Oct. 5.